Festival review: Playing Fate; TheSpace @ Surgeons Hall (venue 53)

A ONCE-HAPPY young couple, Gem and H, have come to the parting of the ways. She wants change – new experiences, to see the world. He’s convinced (or says he is) that they’re destined to be together.

Key junctures in their relationship are then replayed in reverse chronological order, very broadly à la Pinter’s Betrayal, extending back to their randomly (or not?) crossed paths and near-encounters before they first met. Even their halcyon days together are thus framed by foreknowledge of the eventual outcome, shifting the focus onto the seeds of their love’s demise.

As indicated by the title, the main issue in question is the relative importance of fate, chance and individual choice in determining what path life takes – and how what seems fated can be deviously manipulated.

The underlying message seems ultimately to endorse all those warnings to single women about never trusting a guy who declares love on the first date.

Along with most of the script, the performances, by playwright Katherine Gibbons and Pedro Pinhal, are competent enough, but the basic story lacks sufficient depth and drama to make us care much about the two characters.

Rating: ***

• Until 18 August. Today 5:10pm